The German Election Is Boring – And That’s Fine

After the unexpected calamity of Brexit and the second-place finish of Marine Le Pen in France, I argue in EUobserver that Germany’s boring election is a welcome reprieve.

This is not just about Angela Merkel. Germany has had only eight chancellors since the end of the Second World War. America has been through 13 presidents during the same period, Britain had 14 prime ministers and Italy 28.

Germans have learned the hard way to mistrust charisma and not elevate politics to a matter of national survival — nor dismiss it as sport.

Better to let it be a dull affair for serious men and women in grey suits.